Work indexing attachment



D 1 1, 5 T J. s. HOLLINGER 2,573,475

WORK INDEXING ATTACHMENT Filed Sept. 21, 1946 wzzfzbiZa'agger By @Mm Patented Dec. 11, 1951 FFICE WORK INDEXING ATTACHMENT John snomn er, Pontiac, Mich. Application September 21, 1946, Serial No. 698,531

7 f1 clai (01. 90-57) This invention relates to lathesandlike ma I chines having a rotary driven spindle on which a work holder is ordinarily secured, and more particularlyto an indexing attachment adapted to be interposed between the spindle and the work holder so that the angular distance through which the work is moved may be accurately measured after each cut when performing certain operations, especially a milling or grinding operation with the spindle and work holder held stationary.

It is sometimes necessary to rotate thespindle of a lathe or likemachine through a given or measured angle. For example, when a milling or grinding attachment is'used upon the lathe or like machine and. the work is held in the chuck or clamped to the face plate, the work is not continuously rotated as in the .usual turning and drilling operations. Instead, the work is held stationary while one complete out is made by the milling or grinding attachment, and then the work is rotated through a given part of a revoluation into correct position for the next out. Examples of such operations are the milling and grinding of gear teeth, fluted reamers and the like. Obviously, the angular distance through which the work is moved after each cut must be accurately measured and definitely limited.

The primary object of my invention, therefore, is to provide an indexing attachment which may be applied to the spindle of a lathe or like machine, to enable the same to be accurately and easily manipulated and used in conjunction with a milling or grinding attachment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a work indexing attachment of the above kind which is extremely simple and compact in construction, which may be readily installed for use, and which is easy to use and highly efficient in use.

The exact nature of the present invention, as well as other objects and features thereof, will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing an indexing attachment constructed in accordance with the present invention and operatively associated with the spindle and work holder of a lathe.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 indicates Z the usual head stock of a horizontal lathe in which is journalled the spindle 6 having a reduced threaded end upon which is ordinarily screwed the chuck l or other work holder, such asa face plate.

In accordance with the presentinvention, a work indexing attachment 8 is interposed between the spindle 6 and the work holder'l. As shown, such attachment includes a mounting di 9 having a central threaded opening 19 whereby the same may be screwed upon the reduced threaded end of the spindle 9. The mounting disc 9 is further provided upon its inner face with stepped outer and inner annular shoulders H and [2 which are disposed concentric with and inwardly of the'periphery of the disc 9. Also, three spaced transverse openings are provided through the mounting disc 9 at points intermediate the shoulders H and [2, one of which openings is indicated at i3 in Figure 3.

An index ring 14, of the same external diameter as the mounting disc 9, is rotatably fitted on the outer shoulder i I and has a rabbet If: in its inner edge. A clamping ring it is rotatably seatedon the inner shoulder l2 and has its outer marginal portion received in the rabbet l5 of the index ring M. The width or thickness of the ring I6 is slightly less than that of the shoulder 82 so that the index ring #4 may be clamped against turning relative to the mounting disc 9 by drawing the clampin ring it toward the mounting disc 9. Fixed to and projected laterally from the clamping ring it are three clamping bolts H which extend through the apertures or openings [3 of the mounting disc 9 and have nuts [8 threaded upon the projecting ends thereof. Thus, by tightening the nuts ill, the clamping ring It may be drawn toward the mounting disc 9 so as to securely clamp the index ring l4 against rotation relative to the supporting disc 9. Conversely, upon loosening the nuts iii, the index ring I4 is freed for rotation relative to the mounting disc 9.

The work holder 1 is secured to the inner face of the index ring 14 so as to be concentric with the axes of the spindle 6, mounting disc 9 and index ring M. For this purpose, machine screws 19 are passed through the index ring M at equally spaced points and are threaded into the work holder the heads of said machine screws i9 being countersunk in the index ring as shown in Figure 3. In this way, the work holder is attached to the index ring for rotation therewith relative to the mounting disc 9.

Co-acting pointer and degree graduations are the degree graduations, 2| are provided on the" periphery of the index ring 14. Also, the graduationsll preferably progress from to 180 degrees in opposite directions from the 0 graduations, as shown. In this way. the angular distances through which the work is moved in either direction may be readily and accurately measured.

Assuming that a out has been made in the work while holding the spindle 0 stationary, with the parts in the position of Figure 1 and with the nuts I8 tightened, the nuts is are then loosened and the work holder 1 is rotated in the desired direction for the angular distance indicated by the proper graduation 2 aligned with the pointer mark 20. The nuts i8 are then tightened again so as to secure the work in the properly adjusted position for the next cut. This operation may be repeated in accordance with the number of cuts to bemade in the work. Many jobs which would ordinarily be taken out of the lathe and put on a rotary table or dividing head, can be done on the lathe by the use of the present attachment. As a result of this, much time is saved because the work is already chucked and concentric.

From the foregoing description, it is believed 31 that the construction, operation and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. Minor changes in details of construction illustrated and described, are contemplated, such as fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. The attachment is also useful in performing other operations, such as layout work, both on the face and perimeter of various parts.

What I claim is:

A work indexing attachment comprising a mounting disc centrally apertured and threaded for attachment to the threaded end of the spindle of a lathe or like machine, said mounting disc having stepped outer and inner annular shoulders on the inner face thereof concentric with and inwardly of the periphery of the same, an index ring rotatably fitted on the outer shoulder and having a rabbet in its inner edge, a clamping ring seated on the inner shoulder and having its outer marginal portion received in the rabbet of said index ring so that the index ring may be clamped against turning relative to the mounting disc by drawing the clamping ring toward said mounting disc, releasable means for drawing the clamping ring toward the mounting disc, means to secure a work holder to the index ring, and co-acting pointer mark and degree graduations on the peripheries of the mounting disc and index ring for indicating degrees of rotation of the index ring relative to the mounting disc.

JOHN S. HOLLINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name "Date 782,240 Hanson Feb. 14, 1905 798,310 Wesson Aug. 29, 1905 1,488,148 Carlson Mar. 25, 1924 2,324,476 Becker July 20, 1943 2,357,610 Ryffe Sept. 5, 1944 

